Brush for track and right-of-way



April 3o, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 1'7, 1960 April 30, 1963 H. H. TALBoYs BRUSH FOR TRACK AND RIGHT-oR-WAY 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 17, 1960 Pd/7W far/er April 30, 1963 H. H. TALBoYs BRUSH FOR TRACK AND RIGHT-OF-WAY 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed May 17. 1960 NNN April 30 1963 H. H. TALBoYs 3,087,179

BRUSH FOR TRACK AND RIGHT-OF-WAY Filed May 17, 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 IN VEN TOR.

April 30, 1963 H. H. TALBoYs 3,087,179

BRusx-x RoR TRACK AND RIGHT-oR-wAy Filed May 17, 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 1N V EN TOR.

United States Patent O 3,087,179 BRUSH FOR TRACK AND RIGHT-OF-WAY Henry H. Talboys, Milwaukee, Wis., assigner to Nordberg Manufacturing Company, Milwaukee, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Filed May 17, 1960, Ser. No. 29,605 10 Claims. (Cl. 15-55) This invention is in the eld of track Working equipment and is concerned with a track sweeper :for use on railroad track and the like.

A primary object of the invention is a light-'Weight self-propelled sweeper.

Another object is a track sweeper which is primarily constructed for ballast placement.

Another object is a track sweeper which levels the ballast across the crib `area for use, for example, ahead of a tamper.

Another object is a track sweeper which removes excess ballast from the tops of the ties after a raising operation.

Another object is a track sweeper which is suiciently light so that it does not disturb the track surface when operating between the jack and the tamper in a raising operation. 1

Another object is a track sweeper specifically constructed to clean the tie tops after a raising operation. l

Another object is a track sweeper which may be used as a dresser after a raising operation.

Another object is a multi-speed sweeper which may be used for several types of track sweeping jobs.

Other objects will appear from time to time in the ensuing specification and drawings in which:

FIGURE l is a perspective taken from the right side of the machine;

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view with parts omitted tor clarity;

FIGURE `3 is a front perspective without the deector;

FIGURE 4 is a rear perspective;

FIGURE 5 is a partial perspective of a paddle;v

FIGURE 6 is a cross section of the impeller;

FIGURE 7 is a front view of a modied form of the impeller;

FIGURE 8 is a partial front View of a further modied impeller;

FIGURE 9 is similar to FIGURE 8 but of an additional variation of `the impeller; and

FIGURE 10i is a perspective of an additional modiiica-A tion. y

As shown in FIGURES l and 2 the sweeper is made up primarily of three main units, a vehicle 10, an impeller 12 on the front of the vehicle, and a -deflector or baiiie 14 ahead of the impeller.

Considering each in detail, the vehicle 4is made up of a frame 16, shown best in FIGURE 2, which may be considered as generally rectangular, defined by laterally disposed channels 18 and 19 at each end and longitudinally disposed side channels 20 and 22. Flanged wheels 24 which ride on the rails may be mounted on axles 26 and 28 which pass through bearings 30 connected to the bottom of the frame, shown in FIGURE 4. Longitudinally disposed inner channels 32 extend up the middle of the frame, as shown in FIGURE 2, and a Suitable gasoline engine 34 or the like is mounted on a supporting pla-te 36 bolted or otherwise held generally on the right rear corner of the frame. Through a belt 38 or the like the engine drives a pump 40 which is disposed generally on the rear of the frame -in the center between the engine 34 and a reservoir or tank 42 positioned generally on the left rear corner of the frame. The engine, pump and tank may all be mounted on `suitable plates bolted or otherwise suitably connected to the frame, not

ice

shown in detail. An operator seat 44 is mounted on the left side of the frame on a U-shaped support 46 made up of angles Welded together and held around the Itank or reservoir 42 by bolts 48 or the like. It will be noted that one leg of the U-shaped support extends in front of the tank and the other behind with the bolts passing on each side and the crosspiece 49 of the U extending under the se-at 44. As shown, the seat projects out to the left side of the trarne, but may be positioned in any suitable manner. A foot rest or step 50, in the form of two upside down channels welded to the underside of the frame and projecting from the left side somewhat, as shown in FIG- URE 2, may be provided in front of the seat 44.

The vforward corners of the frame have upright angles or stanchions 52 with rearwardly extended braces 54 connected to the frame, a crosspiece 56 extending laterally between the upper ends of the stanchions and outwardly beyond the stanchions somewhat, as shown in FIGURE 3, side braces 58 connected at their upper ends adjacent the top of the stanchions and extending laterally outwardly and ldownwardly and connected at their lower ends to an elongated crossbeam 60 extending across the front of the frame which supports or vfunctions as a mounting for the impeller12. Braces A62 in FIGURE 2, extend outwardly from the sides of t-he frame and are connected at or near the outer ends of crossbeam 60.

The vehicle may be self-propelled. Engine 34 drives the pump 40 which is supplied with fluid from the tank or reservoir 42 through suitable leads, not shown in detail. Fluid under pressure goes from the pu-mp by suitable leads to various operating parts on the machine. A fluid motor `64 drives a belt 66 or the like which drives a pulley 68 and clutch arrangement 70 on a countershaft 72 which drives the lfront axle through a chain 74. The clutch may be actuated by a linkage and handle arrangement 76 which, as shown in FIGURE 2, extends over to the left side in front of the operators seat. The clutch and chain drive may be provided with a suitable cover 78, as shown in FIGURE 2.

A suitable fuel tank 80 for the engine may be mounted on the right side of the frame, and held in place by a strap arrangement 82 or the like, with a suitable line, not shown, to supply fuel to the engine.

The impeller 12 may include a suitable frame pivoted on the front of the vehicle at 84, the pivot bein-g in the form of stub shafts projecting from each end of the crossbeam 60 into suitable bearings 8S in the sides of the impeller frame. Side plates 36 extend forwardly tromthe ends of the pivots 84 to a cross frame 88 having a more or less flat top plate 90. On the right side a suitable platform 92 rises above the top plate somewhat and serves as a support for a fluid motor 94 which, through a chain drive or the like, not shown, enclosed within a shield or guard 96, `drives a countershatt 98. Through a suitable chain and sprockets inside of a guard 100, the counter-shaft drives the main support shaft 102 of the impeller which, as shown in FIGURE 3, rotates in bearings 104 on each side of the impeller frame.

The impeller proper, as shown in FIGURE 3, i-s made up of `three sections, a center section 106 and two side sections 10S with gaps between so that they will lit between 4and on each side of the rails. Each of the impeller sections may for example be made up of four circumferentially spaced radially disposed blades or paddles 110= which are solid, flexible, but resiliently stift" strips adjustably and removably connected for example by bolts 112 which pass through slots 114 in the inner edge of the paddles and on one side through a plate ,116 welded or otherwise suitably secured to shaft 1012 along its inner edge, and through an angle or strip 118 on the other side which is not connected to lthe shaft 102. When the nuts on the bolts 112 are backed off, the paddles or blades may be adjusted radially to compensate for wear and for proper alignment. It is preferred that the paddles be equally spaced circumferentially. The paddles of the outer sections .108V are I,generally aligned and should be between'the paddle-s of the center section 106 so that as the impeller rotates the load on the impeller, due to contaotwith theballast and ties, will not go olf all at Once.

One ofthe strips which make up the paddles is shown in :FIGURES and is preferably a resilient stiiy flexible rubber a, preferably backed up by canvas or a fabric or textilemesh b, possibly two to four mesh, on the lee side. rThe overall strip'might be of 'an inch in thickness with the dimensionally stabilizing material b of the order of 1A6 to Ms of an inch. The fabric or textile may be bonded or vulcanized to the back of the resilient material or it may be molded directly in or otherwise secured.

I Shave said that the paddle is preferably a rubber or a rubber substitute which will have stif flexibility and high wear resistance. But it might be something other than rub-ber. Inany event, when rubber is used, it is held against excess stretching by a Vfabric layer, or layer of dimensionally stable material, which is on or next to the rear side andlis protected from wear by the rubber itself. The fabric reinforces the rubber layer yand maintains dimensional stability without being directly subjected to wear itself. While rubber is preferable, nevertheless a solid plastic paddle which is suitably wear resistant and sufliciently stiff but nevertheless llexible might vbe used. This is to say that the invention is n'ot limited to rubber. In fact, a su-itable laminated paddle might be used.

It will be noted that the edges ofthe paddles or blades next to the rails are square cut so that they miss the spikes and I position cable ends 120 in sockets 122 on the plates 116,-the cable ends being shown in groups of four around .the shaft "102, disposed inwardly toward the rail and diagonally arranged-to work in under the railhead to clean the ange and spike heads. While four cables are shown in each location, I might use two, about 180 degrees apart. I -may use a band around the rniddle of each cable end to -keepit from fraying or opening up. A curved shield or baille v124, possibly in one section or two, as shown in FIGURE 1, is mounted inthe impeller yframe and conormscloselyaroundthe impeller paddles to form a hood or housing for the impeller.

The impeller and impeller fnameare raised and lowered about the pivots 8 4, Shown -in FIGURE 2,V for example by ahydraulic cylinder 126 which is pivotally connected, as at 128, to the frame, and at its upper end, at 130, to a lever arm 132 mounted on' a cross shaft 134 which is pivotally supported insuitable bearings 136 on the crosspiece 56. The cross shaft 134 carries levers 138 which are connected through links 140l to brackets 142 toward the forward edge of the impeller frame. 'It will thus be seen `that the hydraulic cylinder 126 may be used to rock the -cross shaft 134 in either direction thus raising or lowering the impeller and impeller frame. F[The cylinder may be selectively supplied with fluid from the pump 4l]` through the valve controls.

The other end of the cross sha-ft 134 may have a-second lever arm 144 with a chainI 146 or the like connected to it extending down to Va suitable cleat 148, in FIGURE 2, on the frame so that when the impeller-has been brought to the proper position at the right height above or slightly below the tie tops by the cylinder, the chain may be connected to the c-leat -and hydraulic pressure relieved. The chain may be used rto hold the impeller in position during operation.

The deflector or baille 14 is mounted on suitably anged wheels 150 on an axle `152. Angles 154 on each side rise from the axle to a crosspiece 1 56. Lower and upper braces or angles y158 and 160 extend'rearwardly to form a frame 161 which supports diagonally disposed deector plates 162 which come together to `form an edge 164 with a divider of V-shaped appearance disposed generally midway between the vrails in a position just forward of the impeller. The top of `the deflector has a cover or shield 166 which extends outwardly on each side forming wings 168, the rear edge of the shield and wings being provided with .an over-lapping flexible strip extending laterally across the unit, as at 170. Each side may be provided with handle -bars 171, if desired.

A removable deector 172 is mounted under each wing by a T :slot connection 174, the lower end of each such deector being provided with a flexible section 176 removably connected at 178 so that it may be replaced when excessively worn. It will be noted in FIGURE l that the lower end of the flexible piece or section'may engage the ballast.

The ballast is propelled forwardly by the impeller and is deected outwardly by the V-shaped divider. The two deflector plates 162 making up the V-shaped deector divide the ballast in halfA and propel or deflect the ballast toward opposite sides. The removable ldelector 172 on each side is disposed vgenerally parallel to the divider plate 162 but is spaced from it to dene two outlets or channels, one ibetween them, as at 180 in FIGURE l, and the other rearwardly of the removable deflector, as at 182. The removable deector'projects lin far enough so rthat tits inner edge is next to the rails. Thus the center section 110 of the impeller works "against the dividing plates 162 While the outer sections 108 of the impeller project ballast against the removable deflectors 172. Therefore ballast may leave through Iltwo exits on each side.

The lcrosspiece 156 of the deector has stubs 184 at each end to receive a bar 186. The bar may have a plurality oflongitud-inal'ly spaced holes 188, shown in FIGURE l, any lone of which may lit over the stub to provide a pivotal connection removably held by a cotter key `190l or Ithe like. A chain 1'92 is connected to the topfof the deector and extends up over lthe bar 186 and lits into Ia notch 194 or the like to hold the entire deector structure in any selected pivotal posi-tion.

The rear ends of the bars 186 are connected to levers 1-96 mounted on a cross shaft 198 which is pivoted on the `cross bar 56 of the main frame. Tlhe cross bar 198 has an operating vhandle 200 which may be connected by :a chain `202 to a cleat on the frame of the vehicle, as at 204, to hold the cross shaft 1'98 in any pivoted position. The cross shaft may be pivoted to raise or lower the ventire deector structure lin a pivoting action about its wheels 1501.

All of the plates on the deeotor may be removably mounted and, in fact, the deflector may take on the character of :a frame made up of angle irons with the plates removably Ibolted to it so that when the plates are worn, `they may -be `quickly and easily removed and replaced. This is true of plates 162, 166 and 172. Also, the -curve plate 124 partially around Ithe impeller may be removably mounted so that it may lbe quickly and easily replaced.

I may position :a roller 206 kon top of the impeller frame to engage an angle 208 projecting rearwardly on top of the deector. Thus the operator may raise the impeller which, in turn, will raise the rear end of the deector so that adjustment of the chains 192 may be made to either raise or lower the rear off the deector prior to a sweep. This may yalso be used to raise the deector at crossings, switches, etc.

I may position a jack or the like tin the middle of the frame so ythat the vehicle can be raised, turned and rolled off on setup rails to yallow traffic to pass. I may also provide the yvehicle with a lifting eye, as shown in the drawings, so that it can be picked up and moved by a crane or the like.

In FIGURE 7, I have shown a modilied form in which the impeller paddles 210 have an undercut or slanting edge 212 next to the rail so that the ange and base of the rail around the spike heads and bolts will be thoroughly cleared and cleaned. It should be noted in FIG- URE 7 that 4both the center and outboard paddles may be so formed and I also may use cable ends 214 which are disposed more or less parallel to the slanting edge of the paddles to Work on the rail base and flange.

In FIGURE 8, la further modification is shown in which the center paddle 216 is shown as divided into two sections or parts 218 and 220. In the event that the outboard edge of each section becomes rworn due to contact with the spike heads and bolts, I may reverse them so that what was their abutting inner edges will now become their outer edges. It should also be noted that I may reverse the outboard paddles, such as at 108 in FIGURE 3, in the event that the edges next to the rails become worn. But, -in any event, the fabric side, as at b in FIG- URE 5, should be the trailing side when the paddles or paddle sections are reversed.

In FIGURE 9, I have shown a further modification of the centered paddle which I divide into three sections, two outer parts 222 and one inner somewhat longer sheet 224. When a sweeper of this type is working between the tamper jack and the gang tamper, the operator may not lbe able to see the ties. With the middle of the center panel somewhat longer, as -at 224 in FIGURE 9, I will effect a more thorough cleaning or sweeping at the center of the ties than I do next -to the rails. This Iwould serve -to expose the ties somewhat in the center so that the tamper operator could clearly see them. The precise length of each panel in FIGURE 49 is not important. Also, when the outer edges of the outside panels 222 next to the rails become worn, they could be easily reversed.

In FIGURE l0,I I have shown Ia perspective of a further modification in which the paddle 226 has a plurality of teeth 228 mounted in a lateral row adjacent but somewhat spaced from the lower edge, as at 230. In FIG- URE 10, each of the teeth 4is shown in the form of an angle connected by a bolt or the like extending through the paddle `and the upper legr of the angle. I find it particularly advantageous to attach met-al digging elements, either in the precise shape shown or otherwise, next to the (business Iedge of the paddles for use in breaking up hard or compacted material. I prefer that the metal attachments -be in the form of separate teeth or the like, instead of one long bar, so that the paddle will retain its flexibility at the lower end. Also,` where teeth are used, suc-h as in FIGURE 10, they should be spaced somewhat from the lower edge so that as the teeth break through the hardened or compacted material, the exposed lower edge of the panel will follow through immediately with a sweeping action. l thus get a double effect, breaking and sweeping, with one stroke.

The use, operation and function of the invention are as follows:

Primarily il am concerned With a lightweight unit which may be used between the jack and tamper in a track raising operation. In such a situation, the rails `are only supported at spaced intervals, for example, every 13 feet. New ballast is on top of the ties, on the rail flanges, in the cribs and on the shoulders and since the rails are only supported at intervals, a heavy sweeper would knock down the lift.

Thus the unit is lightweight and Will not cause the rails to lose their lift. The unit sweeps or moves the ballast forward and fills the cribs or spaces between the ties. The outside sections of the impeller sweep the ballast forward between the ties and the result is a complete movement of the ballast into the cribs or intertie spaces. In effect, the unit places the ballast for the tampers which follow.

The new ballast in a raising operation is dropped by a hopper car prior to the raise. Thereafter, the jack raises the track the desired amount, for example l to 5 inches, and the ballast, or `a substantial portion of it, is still on top of the ties and on the rail flanges and unevenly distributed. Prior to this invention the ballast has 'been manually swept or moved by a gang of men so that :the

tamper, which follows, will compact the ballast under the ties and in the cribs. But the present sweeper is lightweight .and will be easily supported by the intermittently supported rails without causing the rails to lose their raise. The impeller, as such, may be raised and lowered to effect the precise ballast placement required to support the track in the desired raised position. The deflector also may be independently adjusted to give the proper deflection o-f propelled ballast so that the proper amount will be deflected outside of the rails, but at the same time will only go the desired distance. For example, in some situations it may be that the excess ball-ast should be thrown out onto the shoulders. In others, it may go farther. But by adjusting the impeller and the deflector independently, the proper combination may be used.

The unit may be used as a `dresser `after the tamper to clean up the ties and rail flanges, if desired.

In ya raising operation, the impeller should probably be set a little higher than in a cleaning up operation. For example, in raising it might be set approximately `an inch above the tie tops. But in sweeping up, I might set it at a half an inch or less above the tie tops. In certain situations, depending upon the condition of the ballast, I may set the bottom of the impeller blades slightly below the tie tops, for example half an inch or one inch, so that the cribs will be packed down and swept out, thereby improving the appearance of the track.

This invention will give a uniform ballast condition so that the tamper operator does not have to adjust an-d change the setting of his machine from time to time due to a change in the condition of the ballast. Thus the tamper, which is normally considered a slow-moving machine, may be speeded up.

The details of the hydraulic and propulsion mechanism are not important.

The impeller itself is important. Prior to ythis invention, sweepers for track use have had a plurality of closely spaced, radially disposed cable ends or pieces of rubber hose as the sweeping means but these did not do a lcomplete job. My solid paddles or flexible strips give a complete and thorough sweep across the tie tops. For ballast placement ahead of the tamper, the impeller may be slowed down so that the ballast will be moved from the tie tops to the intertie spaces. For a `sweep-up after tamping, the entire unit may be speeded up so that excess ballast will be thrown out. In fact, I might use three speeds, a slow speed to clear material from tie tops, 'an intermediate speed to clear material from the track and throw it out of the way, and `a high speed to clear the maximum amount of material from the track. The ideal in any operation is to end up with clean tie tops and the `ballast in the intertie space about one inch below the tie tops. The flexible blades also have the advantage that they will not injure the threads, nuts, etc. of the joint bar bolts. Nor will they injure the ties.

A big advantage in making the deflector separate from the vehicle is that it can be quickly removed from the machine and manually set oft" the track While the track sweeper travels to `and from the set-oft or siding.

While I have shown four blades or paddles for the impeller sections, it should be understood that more or less may be used. The same is true of theI cable ends.

The impeller blades or paddles have been shown as plain. But I may lmount metal digging teeth on the edges thereof in certain situations to break up the ballast. In such event the deflector may, if desired, be omitted` While I have Ishown 4and described the preferred form .and one modification of my invention, it should be understood that suitable `additional modifications, changes, substitutions and alterations may be made Without departing from the inventions fundamental theme. It is, therefore, wished that the invention be unrestricted except as by the :appended claims.

I claim:

l. In a sweeper for use on railroad tra-ck and the like,

s,os7,179

Y i 7 a vehicle adapted to move along the track, a rotatable impeller on the vehicle spanning the rails, power means for rotating the impeller in a direction to sweep ballast forwardly yof .the ve-hicle between the tie ends, the impeller including a plurality of peripherally spaced, radially and laterally extending, solid flexible blades adapted to perform :a flexible ballast placement operation ahead of the irnpeller, and la plurality of radially disposed cable ends attached to the impeller, one next to each edge of the blades, to work against the 'base and flange of the rails.

2. In a sweeper for use on railroad track and the like, a vehicle adapted to move along the track, a rotatable impeller `on the vehicle spanning the rails, power means for rotating the impeller in a direction to sweep ballast forwardly of the vehicle between the tie ends, the impeller including :a plurality of peripherally spaced, radially and laterally. extending, solid exible blades adapted t perform a flexible ballast placement operation ahead of the impeller, and inclined flexible cable elements mounted on the hub and positioned to extend angularly toward the opposite sides of each of the two rails of a track.

3. In a brush assembly for performing a ballast sweeping and placement operation on track sweepers and the like, a rotatable impeller structure including an axial hub and a pluralityof peripherally spaced, generally radially extending, solid blades removably mounted thereon, said blades being exible throughout their radial and lateral -extent and having a forward layer of a material having the general characteristics of rubber, as to flexibility and wear, and having dimensionally stabilizing material bonded thereto, and attaching means rigidly connected to the hub for removably mounting each such blade on the .hub so that when mounted a substantial extent of each `blade will project radially beyond the attachingmeans, compared to blade thickness, and will be otherwise free to ex when in Contact with the ballast, the flexibly free portion of each blade beyond the attaching means being lat least half of the full radial extent of the blade from the axial hub whereby the blades will exibly arch somewhat when in contact with the ballast and will ex across theY ties when the impeller is set low enough so that the extremities of the blades will be slightly below the top of the ties, each blade bevehicle for `adjustment 4so that it may be raised and lowered, and means on the vehicle for pivoting the impeller ,structure to raise and lower it so thatV its distance above the ties may be varied.

5. The structure of claim 3 further -characterized in that the impeller is divided into three laterally aligned sections, a center section and two outside sections with a gap between them so that the impeller will span the rails with the center section effective between the rails and the outer sections effective on the tie ends, the side edges of the blades on each side of the rails being undercut from the outer edge of the blade to the axis of the impeller so that the blade will be effective under the rail heads.

6. The `structure of claim 3 further characterized by and including a plurality of radially disposed cable ends attached to the impeller, one next to each edge of the blades, to work against the base and ange of the rails.

7. The structure of claim 3 further characterized in that the dimensionally stabilizing material is constituted by a textile.

8. The structure of claim 3 further characterized in that the blade is formed of ap-lurality of interchangeable sections.

9. The structure of claim 3 further characterized in that the blade includes three side-byside sections, the center section extending radially beyond the two side sections.

10. The structure of claim 3 further characterized in that each flexible blade is interrupted along its length by spaces sufficient to permit the passage of the brush assembly along the rails of the track with generally radially extending blade edges located outside of and inside of and out of contact with the sides of each of the rails of a track.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 929,109 Rappellee uly 27, 1909 1,495,095 Morris May 20, 1924 1,507,317 Laberge Sept. 2, 1924 2,727,263 Dangremond et al. Y Dec. 20, 1955 2,777,220 Baies aan. 15, 1957 2,854,681 Wells et al. i Oct. 7, 1958 2,869,159 Kershaw Y ,Jan. 2.0, 1959 2,929,084 Kershaw Man 22, 1960 

3. IN A BRUSH ASSEMBLY FOR PERFORMING A BALLAST SWEEPING AND PLACEMENT OPERATION ON TRACK SWEEPERS AND THE LIKE, A ROTATABLE IMPELLER STRUCTURE INCLUDING AN AXIAL HUB AND A PLURALITY OF PERIPHERALLY SPACED, GENERALLY RADIALLY EXTENDING, SOLID BLADES REMOVABLY MOUNTED THEREON, SAID BLADES BEING FLEXIBLE THROUGHOUT THEIR RADIAL AND LATERAL EXTENT AND HAVING A FORWARD LAYER OF A MATERIAL HAVING THE GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS OF RUBBER, AS TO FLEXIBILITY AND WEAR, AND HAVING DIMENSIONALLY STABILIZING MATERIAL BONDED THERETO, AND ATTACHING MEANS RIGIDLY CONNECTED TO THE HUB FOR REMOVABLY MOUNTING EACH SUCH BLADE ON THE HUB SO THAT WHEN MOUNTED A SUBSTANTIAL EXTENT OF EACH BLADE WILL PROJECT RADIALLY BEYOND THE ATTACHING MEANS, COMPARED TO BLADE THICKNESS, AND WILL BE OTHERWISE FREE TO FLEX WHEN IN CONTACT WITH THE BALLAST, THE FLEXIBLY FREE PORTION OF EACH BLADE BEYOND THE ATTACHING MEANS BEING AT LEAST HALF OF THE FULL RADIAL EXTENT OF THE BLADE FROM THE AXIAL HUB WHEREBY THE BLADES WILL FLEXIBLY ARCH SOMEWHAT WHEN IN CONTACT WITH THE BALLAST AND WILL FLEX ACROSS THE TIES WHEN THE IMPELLER IS SET LOW ENOUGH SO THAT THE EXTREMITIES OF THE BLADES WILL BE SLIGHTLY BELOW THE TOP OF THE TIES, EACH BLADE BEING SUBSTANTIALLY LATERALLY ELONGATED COMPARED TO ITS THICKNESS. 